Prayer Meeting, Second Stone
1916
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1916
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This black-and-white scene shows a group of people in a dimly lit room. A woman stands in the center, arms raised, as if leading a prayer or song. Around her, others sit or stand with hands clasped, heads bowed, or eyes closed. A piano sits near the front, and a man in a suit stands to the left, holding a piece of paper. The room feels crowded and intense, with light coming from above. Notice how the artist uses strong contrasts between light and dark to focus attention on the people. The faces and hands stand out sharply against the shadows, making the moment feel urgent. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how this lighting technique works.
